My name is Emily Weyenberg, and I am a recent PharmD graduate from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in Iowa City, Iowa. Like many students, I spent much of my time balancing school, work, extracurricular activities, and trying to maintain relationships outside of pharmacy. For a long time, I felt like I was constantly being pulled in many different directions, and I know that feeling is common for students at every stage of their training.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was simple: just show up.

Students today are asked to do a lot. There are exams to study for, jobs to work, organizations to get involved in, family and friends to keep up with, and time that needs to be set aside to rest and recharge. When everything feels important, it can be hard to know where to focus your energy. I remember feeling paralyzed by that pressure and questioning whether I was doing enough or even belonged in some of the spaces I wanted to be part of. When I felt overwhelmed and unsure where to start, “just show up” became something I could always come back to.

Sometimes, the advice to "just show up" means being present. When your to do list feels endless, do not try to tackle everything at once. Just show up to one thing at a time. That might mean focusing fully while studying for an exam, listening closely to a patient, or being truly present in a conversation with someone you care about. Being present, even when it feels difficult, allows you to put your best effort into whatever is in front of you.

Other times, just showing up means physically walking into spaces where you might feel uncertain or uncomfortable. Throughout pharmacy school, I learned that opportunities often start simply by being in the room. If there is a meeting, class, or conference you are curious about, even if you do not know anyone, show up anyway. If there is someone you want to learn from and asking feels intimidating, reach out regardless. You do not need to have everything figured out before taking that first step.

One example of this came early in my pharmacy school journey, when I was overwhelmed by the number of clubs available and was unsure where I fit. I joined several professional organizations and made it a point to attend their meetings, even when I did not know anyone else in the room. One meeting led to another, and eventually I attended the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists Midyear Regional Meeting. I initially saw it as a chance to learn more about the profession of pharmacy, but simply showing up opened doors I never anticipated. By the end of the meeting, I found myself running for a regional officer position— something I would not have imagined doing before walking into that conference.

Some of the most meaningful experiences in my pharmacy journey came from moments when I was unsure I belonged, but I showed up anyway.

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that you do not need to be perfectly confident or completely prepared to move forward. Often, all you need to do is show up. You never know what doors might open simply because you were willing to take that first step and be present once you got there.